Commissaries to close on Mondays

Published: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 06:53 AM.

“We’re going back to the way things used to be,” Lang said. “There are other options on base for necessary purchases.”

Given the current fiscal environment in the military the closings are understandable, Lang said.

“With the cutbacks something has to give,” Lang said. “You have to go with the flow and be flexible. There’s still six other days to shop.”

Commissary employees are not exempt from government furloughs either, which will cause a reduction in pay.

“The furlough amounts to a 20-percent reduction in pay during this period for employees,” store director Mike Dunn said.

Dunn said the stores will work with suppliers to ensure customers will continue to find the same in-store selection despite closings and furloughs.

“Being closed one day a week for a total of 11 days during this period will require adjustments by our shoppers, suppliers and employees,” Dunn said. “ ... We remain committed and have a plan to continue to deliver a commissary benefit that’s worth the trip.”

Starting next month, there will be one less day a week to shop at base commissaries.

“The Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune commissary will be closed every Monday from July 8 through Sept. 30 in accordance with the Department of Defense protocols,” said Richard Brink, defense commissary agency public affairs specialist.

The move comes as the DoD faces automatic cuts to the federal budget across most departments and agencies thanks to sequestration, which took effect March 1. In total, $85 billion in cuts are mandated across the country. As a result of the mandated cuts, commissaries have implemented several measures to reduce spending in addition to their Monday closings.

“These measures include an agency-wide hiring freeze for all outside Defense Commissary Agency hires, curtailment of official travel considered noncritical to the agency’s mission and cancellation of all case lot sales for May,” Brink said.

For Master Sgt. Michael Judd the closings aren’t a big deal.

“The commissaries used to close on Mondays,” said Judd, 44, of Oneonta, N.Y. “To me, it doesn’t make much of a difference. It’s not a big deal at all.”

Marine spouse Angie Lang of Camp Lejeune agrees.

“We’re going back to the way things used to be,” Lang said. “There are other options on base for necessary purchases.”

Given the current fiscal environment in the military the closings are understandable, Lang said.

“With the cutbacks something has to give,” Lang said. “You have to go with the flow and be flexible. There’s still six other days to shop.”

Commissary employees are not exempt from government furloughs either, which will cause a reduction in pay.

“The furlough amounts to a 20-percent reduction in pay during this period for employees,” store director Mike Dunn said.

Dunn said the stores will work with suppliers to ensure customers will continue to find the same in-store selection despite closings and furloughs.

“Being closed one day a week for a total of 11 days during this period will require adjustments by our shoppers, suppliers and employees,” Dunn said. “ ... We remain committed and have a plan to continue to deliver a commissary benefit that’s worth the trip.”